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Thai band, as a whole, had as much pride as any I've worked with. Determination, spirit and a wonderful one for all. all for one altitude. 1 never had to worry about disciplining Sacred Heart girls. They took care of each other. The band at that school was everybody’s pride and they were always exceptionally careful not to make any wrong moves.Carpenter said Monsignor Geoffrey O'Connell and the good Sisters were the guiding hands behind this unusual high school attitude.Of the band that became one of the showiest and most colorful in Mississippi’s history. Carpenter still say* girls arc easiest to teach.” Spirit, he has said, was the keynote to the kiltie band’s success with the results being good teamwork and no prima donnas.Horn July 29. 1917. in Satcsboro. Ga.. lo parents who picked a banjo and played a fiddle. Carpenter got his first musical instru* ment. a gift from his mother, a brass trombone, in 1928. I spent hours with that thing, he recalls, and without a lesson I figured out how to play ’America’ by myself.Prof. Carpenter plays by car although he’s a trained musician. He earned a BS degree in music from Georgia Southern and believes had he not pursued the career he has followed he might have gone tobuilding things just like my father, a mechanic, or oil painting, which I enjoy.”Georgia Southern offered him a scholarship. I was 18 then and every year I would swear I would not go back. I had no intention of going to college. It was my mother's idea. But I guess I could never sec anything but music. I %vritc it. teach it and perform It. I just couldn't be happier doing anything else Among the honors he has added in his long list of accomplishments is the outstanding musician of the year title, an annual Biloxi recognition bestowed to some of the old city’s music greats.The big man with the big heart has. through recording some 20 albums at his Singing River Publishing Company, worked with some of lhe big names in the business, including Fats Domino. Fcrlin Husky. Ray S.-nlth. Jerry Leo Lewis. Kitty Wells and Bill Anderson. to name but a few.This year. BMI i Broadcast Music Inc.) honored him and others at the Nashville Country Club for the hit Bill Anderson recording. World of Make Believe. Lynn Anderson. Charlie Rich and Kris Kristoffcrson were among others so honored.Carpenter and his wife, an accomplished violinist and pianist, are the parents of three daughters.and a son. who’re all musical. Lee. Ins son. plnys in Carpenter’s band. The Knights. He’s a drummer and singer. A daughter, Kathl. plays oboe In the Perkinston band; daughter. Nona, is married to a State Supreme Court Judge in Raleigh. N.C. and daughter. Sherrie, to a high school coach.1 wouldn’t do anything differently. says the 56-ycar-old. “I Ira veiled with the big bands back in the big swing era and I got that nut of my system. I decided I would rather come home at Highland do simple things like be with my family and read the paper. And I’m glad I didn’t take the other route- The Biloxi Public School System has been good to me and one of the rewards is hearing about or receiving a letter from a former student or reading about them in the newspapers One of Carpenter's former students. Jack Tardy, is director of the Air Force Academy Band. Dr. Magrudcr Corban. a practicing physician in Gulfport, was. he recalls. a very fine bassonist In high school at Biloxi High. Pat Dick of Sacred Heart was another fine young musician. Another former student. Jim Sellers, who has made a name for himself as an outstanding newsman, was. according lo Prof.. some trumpet player.Harrison County Family Court Judge Lawrence Semski. a fine
Newspaper Details
South Mississippi Sun
Biloxi, Mississippi, US
Sat, Dec 28, 1974
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Kat B.
VA, USA 04 Jul 2016
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